Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith is a British politician, journalist, and Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal. He currently serves as the Minister of State for Pacific and the Environment. Known for his support of environmentalism, localism, and Brexit, Frank has had a diverse career in politics and media. He began his career as the editor of ‘The Ecologist’ and later joined the Conservative Party. Frank was elected to Parliament in 2010 and served as the MP for Richmond Park. He gained attention for his opposition to the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport and eventually resigned as an MP after the government approved the expansion. However, he later regained his constituency as a Conservative candidate in the 2017 general election. In addition to his role as a Minister of State, Frank was awarded a life peerage, making him a Member of the House of Lords. He also holds the position of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park
- Age: 48 Years, 48 Year Old Males
- Spouse/Ex-: Alice Miranda Rothschild, Sheherazade Goldsmith (m. 1999–2010)
- Father: James Goldsmith
- Mother: Lady Annabel Goldsmith
- Siblings: Alix Marcaccini, Ben Goldsmith, Charlotte Goldsmith, India Jane Birley, Isabel Goldsmith, Jemima Goldsmith, Jethro Goldsmith, Manes Goldsmith, Robin Birley, Rupert Birley
- Children: James Goldsmith, Max Goldsmith, Thyra Goldsmith, Uma Romaine Goldsmith
- Born Country: England
- Height: 6’3″ (190 cm), 6’3″ Males
- City: London, England
- Grouping of People: Jewish Politicians
Early Life & Activities
Frank Zacharias Robin Goldsmith was born on January 20, 1975, in Chelsea, London, England, as the middle child of billionaire businessman and financier Sir James Goldsmith and his third wife, Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart. He comes from the renowned Goldsmith family, known for their success in banking. Both of his grandfathers, Frank Goldsmith and Viscount Castlereagh, served as Conservative MPs. Frank grew up with his siblings, Jemima and Ben, at the Ormeley Lodge in Ham. He developed a keen interest in reading works by Gerald Durrell and watching wildlife programs by David Attenborough, which sparked his lifelong commitment to ecological and environmental conservation.
Frank attended several schools including King’s House School in Richmond, The Mall School in Twickenham, Hawtreys School in Wiltshire, and Eton College in Berkshire. He was expelled from Eton College after drugs were found in his room. He obtained four A-Levels at Cambridge Centre for Sixth-Form Studies. Thanks to his uncle, Edward, Frank had the opportunity to travel around the world with the International Honours Programme. He spent time in California working for the think tank ‘Redefining Progress’ and as a researcher at the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC). He also spent time in India and Ladakh studying traditional cultures and participating in a tourist education program.
Career & Other Endeavors
Frank started his career as the Reviews Editor of ‘The Ecologist’ in 1997, a magazine founded by his uncle Edward. He later became the Editor-in-Chief and Director of the magazine, re-launching it in a new format in 2000. He also contributed to various UK newspapers and magazines, writing about environmental causes. In 2005, he joined the Conservative Party and was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Quality of Life Policy Group by David Cameron. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond Park from 2010 to 2016, advocating for environmentalism and supporting Brexit. He ran as an independent candidate in a by-election in 2016 after resigning as an MP due to the government’s approval of the construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport. He was re-selected as the Conservative Party candidate for Richmond Park in 2017 and won back the constituency with a narrow majority of 45 votes. In 2019, he was appointed as a life peer in the House of Lords and as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
Family & Personal Life
Frank was previously married to Sheherazade Ventura-Bentley, an environmentalist, jeweler, and columnist, from 1999 to 2010. They have three children together. He married Alice Rothschild, a banking heiress, in 2013, and they have three children as well. In his personal life, Frank enjoys gambling, playing backgammon and poker, and has an interest in sports like cricket.